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The 2023-2024 Football Thread

Scepticalscribe

Scepticalscribe

macrumors Haswell
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Jul 29, 2008
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47,539
In a coffee shop.
Damn and double damn.

I now (almost) wish that I had not designated tonight to be a dry night - for, a celebration would, indeed, have been in order.

Nevertheless, my (electric) blanket is already on, ready to bid me a warm welcome.

However, Arsenal now lead by six goals to nil.

Very satisfying.
 
Scepticalscribe

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macrumors Haswell
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
65,156
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In a coffee shop.
Well, this (excellent) result means that Arsenal have now (handsomely) qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, with a game to spare, and by topping their group.

Excellent.
 
Apple fanboy

Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
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Behind the Lens, UK
Scepticalscribe said:
Indeed.

But, this was not always the case, I suspect.

Arsenal probing for a sixth.....

Sometimes, I wish all games were like this.

What I love is the lack of stress, the lack of tension, the fact that I can actually relax, secure in the knowledge of the result.
Click to expand...
Definitely not. But things change. After all I’m sure no one chants 1-0 to the Arsenal anymore! Those George Graham games were not always easy watching.
 
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macrumors Haswell
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
65,156
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In a coffee shop.
Apple fanboy said:
Definitely not. But things change.
Click to expand...
Oh, yes, they most certainly do.

In life and in football, both.

Sometimes, dramatically.
Apple fanboy said:
After all I’m sure no one chants 1-0 to the Arsenal anymore!
Click to expand...
Not these days, although teams that actually manage to win the Premier League tend to have been able to grind out their share of grim 1-0 victories.
Apple fanboy said:
Those George Graham games were not always easy watching.
Click to expand...
No, they weren't, agreed.

And one still suffered, but fans (and impartial observers) suffered in different ways.

However, Nick Hornby has written that this suffering - this pain - this agony - was part of the attraction of football.

Nevertheless, I'm not sure that I entirely agree.
 
Don Quixote

Don Quixote

macrumors 6502a
Aug 16, 2023
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daneoni

daneoni

macrumors G4
Mar 24, 2006
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Just watched the highlights of Galatasaray v Utd.

Onana is the reason they didn't win. I don't think he's the answer which might explain the rumours linking Utd with Ramdale.

Onana seems to be Antony 2.0 lots of 'promise' but no end product.

Sometimes a GK can have too much personality vs ability. And i think he falls into that category. even the basics are off.
 
Apple fanboy

Apple fanboy

macrumors Ivy Bridge
Feb 21, 2012
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Nice away win from West Ham to reach the knockout stages in Europe for the third consecutive season.

1701375992685.png
 
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Silencio

Silencio

macrumors 68040
Jul 18, 2002
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daneoni said:
Just watched the highlights of Galatasaray v Utd.

Onana is the reason they didn't win. I don't think he's the answer which might explain the rumours linking Utd with Ramdale.

Onana seems to be Antony 2.0 lots of 'promise' but no end product.

Sometimes a GK can have too much personality vs ability. And i think he falls into that category. even the basics are off.
Click to expand...

I think Onana just needs a proper GK coach to clean up his shot-stopping technique. The GK coach United has had since the OGS days is absolutely stealing a living. I have no idea why he's still there — he must have incriminating photos of someone.

Ramsdale would not be a bad shout, especially if Onana does end up going to AFCON.
 
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Scepticalscribe

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macrumors Haswell
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
65,156
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In a coffee shop.
Silencio said:
I think Onana just needs a proper GK coach to clean up his shot-stopping technique. The GK coach United has had since the OGS days is absolutely stealing a living. I have no idea why he's still there — he must have incriminating photos of someone.

Ramsdale would not be a bad shout, especially if Onana does end up going to AFCON.
Click to expand...
Ramsdale is (or, used to be) an excellent shot-stopper, and would be a good choice, though I would be sorry to lose him.
 
daneoni

daneoni

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Mar 24, 2006
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Sheff Utd need to change managers unfortunately. There's just no hope as it stands.
 
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macrumors Haswell
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
65,156
47,539
In a coffee shop.
Apple fanboy said:
I’m sure you are.
Click to expand...
Yes, I am.

Now, tonight, perhaps a beer (or a glass of wine) may well be in order.
Apple fanboy said:
However I think the win of the day was Burnley against Sheffield.
5-0 lets them leapfrog their closest rival and put a huge deficit in their GD.
Click to expand...
Yes, but Everton's disgrace makes this look better - in terms of table placings - than might otherwise have been the case.

And yes, they have leapfrogged Sheffield United, and done so handsomely, but greater challenges lie ahead for Burnley.
daneoni said:
Sheff Utd need to change managers unfortunately. There's just no hope as it stands.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, their squad lacks not just strength in depth, but quality at the level required.

The tragedy is that it is easier to fire one person (the manager) than fire - or replace - eleven (or, more, if you add substitutes).
 
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macrumors Haswell
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
65,156
47,539
In a coffee shop.
Elsewhere, Everton snatch victory against Nottingham Forest, while Manchester United have fallen behind - having conceded a goal - against Newcastle on a freezing evening in the frigid North East.
 
daneoni

daneoni

macrumors G4
Mar 24, 2006
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Rashford is one of the most inconsistent players in the EPL right now. Looked disinterested today.

30 goals last season. Only 2 so far this season in 18 appearances. Largely the same team and manager.

Its like he got the bumper pay and put his feet up.

Newcastle away is tough for everyone so its not the end of the world.
 
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Scepticalscribe

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macrumors Haswell
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
65,156
47,539
In a coffee shop.
daneoni said:
Rashford is one of the most inconsistent players in the EPL right now. Looked disinterested today.

30 goals last season. Only 2 so far this season in 18 appearances. Largely the same team and manager.

Its like he got the bumper pay and put his feet up.

Newcastle away is tough for everyone so its not the end of the world.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure that the current Manchester United team is the best possible environment for Marcus Rashford to thrive in; if he is disengaged, there may be more reasons than simply "bumper pay and put his feet up" which may account for this.

Unlike some other players, Rashford has always struck me as an ethical and decent human being, and, if he is disinterested and disengaged, I think that the reasons for this lie deeper.

Now, granted, Newcastle away will always be a tough fixture (and Newcastle, notwithstanding the obscene resources at their disposal are a well managed team), but, nevertheless, not many on the team distinguished themselves today.
 
daneoni

daneoni

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Mar 24, 2006
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Its largely the same team as last season so i'm not sure he has much of an excuse. Also as a professional your output shouldn't be reliant on your mood. Yes we're all human.

You're being paid to show up week in week out. Too many games where he's just jogging.
 
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macrumors Haswell
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
65,156
47,539
In a coffee shop.
daneoni said:
Its largely the same team as last season so i'm not sure he has much of an excuse. Also as a professional your output shouldn't be reliant on your mood. Yes we're all human.

You're being paid to show up week in week out. Too many games where he's just jogging.
Click to expand...
Was he better - brighter - more alert, more motivated - when playing under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer?
 
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macrumors Haswell
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
65,156
47,539
In a coffee shop.
daneoni said:
He also did well last season under ETH which is what is confounding.
Click to expand...
Okay.

Has he been carrying any injuries?

Or, has something happened between himself and ETH which would have caused him to lose confidence - which is what I thought for some of last season - or motivation?

Normally, I am harder on players that switch off - I take your point entirely about professionalism, and the (excellent) salaries they are paid to show up.

Yet, I have a soft spot for Rashford, who has always struck me as a modest, and decent and ethical young man (and a gifted footballer).
 
daneoni

daneoni

macrumors G4
Mar 24, 2006
11,833
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I'm sure he is.

But Utd are paying him 375k/week to deliver more than he is currently giving.
 
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